A Sarnia-Lambton tradesman has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for sex offenses against minors and possession of child pornography.
Livid that he went to a strip club, Joshua Trombley’s former spouse went through his phone after he stumbled home drunk around 2:30 am on March 7, 2020. That’s when she discovered the images and immediately called police, who arrested and charged the 37 -year-old welder with Local 663.
A forensic analysis found 10 images that met the definition of child porn. Trombley, who’s since lost his job, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Sarnia courtroom to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to eight months behind bars.
The majority of his sentence, four years and eight months in prison, was for multiple sex offenses against minors, but the details of those convictions are protected by a court-ordered publication ban. But Nila Mulpuru, Lambton’s acting Crown attorney, highlighted the repercussions of possessing child porn.
“By accessing and possessing these offensive and abusive materials, Mr. Trombley has perpetuated the significant harm caused to children by the production and dissemination of this material,” she said.
Defense lawyer James Guggisberg pointed out Trombley kept them on his phone after they were given to him, but he didn’t distribute them.
“Nonetheless, it was not lost on either the Crown or I the insidious nature of the material and how it is furthered just simply by access,” he said.
Mulpuru and Justice Deborah Austin both noted a pair of pre-sentence reports had mixed reviews, with Trombley minimizing his behavior. Guggisberg said it’s been a great challenge for his client, but he’s finally coming to grips and accepting what he did was wrong.
“I appreciate Mr. Guggisberg’s comments today, but the report is what it is,” Mulpuru responded.
He also did very little to work on himself over the past 2.5 years, she said.
“Given the minimization, given the lack of rehabilitative efforts, the Crown is of the view there, at this time, is a low prospect of rehabilitation,” she said.
Trombley, who was exposed to child porn as a youth and has alcohol and drug issues, according to the reports, apologized and told the judge he’s going to take advantage of his time in prison.
“Get some counseling for some underlying issues that I know I’ve had,” he said.
Austin said it was important to hear his apology.
“That’s the first step,” she said.
The Austin sentence imposed was suggested by both lawyers. He’s now on the Sex Offender Information Registration Act list for life and is banned from weapons for 10 years.